Evander’s dazzling late goal lifts Portland Timbers to victory at New York City FC

Evander (left) and Antony celebrate at the end of the Portland Timbers' MLS match against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, March 9, 2024. The Timbers won 2-1, with Evander scoring the game-winning goal in the final moments.

Evander (left) and Antony celebrate at the end of the Portland Timbers' MLS match against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, March 9, 2024. The Timbers won 2-1, with Evander scoring the game-winning goal in the final moments.Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers

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Evander returned to the lineup on Saturday, and the Portland Timbers are certainly fortunate that he did.

The Timbers designated player scored the game-winning goal at the death against New York City FC, curling in a sensational shot from just outside the box and lifting Portland to a 2-1 comeback victory at Yankee Stadium in New York.

The goal came in the 97th minute and marked the latest comeback win in team history. It was a dramatic strike and finish to the match after the Timbers (2-0-1, 7 points) fell behind early and trailed most of the way.

“Evander grabbed hold of the game and you saw the benefit today of having a DP player that’s without a doubt high, high quality,” Timbers coach Phil Neville told reporters.

Santiago Rodríguez gave New York City the early lead, scoring his team’s first goal of the season in the 10th minute.

Neville said his team was passive and lethargic in the first 20-25 minutes of the match.

“We didn’t have any courage to play, we didn’t have any courage to defend,” Neville said. “We were giving away cheap free kicks, cheap corners and really they could have been 2-nil up.”

Gradually, the Timbers turned things around.

“I felt that at halftime, it felt like we were winning only being 1-nil down,” Neville said. “We were in the game and I felt that that gave us confidence.”

The Timbers played better in the second half, controlling the ball more, but it wasn’t until deep into the match that they finally broke through.

In the 85th minute, Juan Mosquera dribbled down the right side of the box, then sent a cross back to the middle, where Antony fired it home for his third goal of the season.

Even after Antony evened things, a draw seemed the likely outcome. But Evander’s precision gave the the Timbers the full three points. Antony also notched an assist, passing back to Evander in those final moments of stoppage time before his fellow Brazilian delivered the game-winner.

The Timbers won despite finishing with just three shots on goal, compared with six for NYC. The visitors made the most of their chances.

Evander’s return came after the midfielder missed the Timbers’ first two games of the MLS regular season with a right calf injury.

“He probably should have only played 60 minutes maximum, coming back from injury,” Neville said. “He didn’t want to come off. He could smell that the game was there for him, he was enjoying his football.”

When Neville started to sub off Evander after the Timbers had tied it at 1-1, Evander asked to keep playing.

“I had a feeling we were going to win the game,” Evander told reporters, “and I could score the goal and help the team to get three points.”

He did just that, and the home side was left stunned, as New York City (0-3-0) remained without a point on the season.

“We showed character to stay in the game,” Neville said, “and then we showed massive character to come back and win the game.”

Next up: Portland visits Houston at 5:30 p.m. next Saturday (free on Apple TV).

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